Lexington Resident Takes Over As HED Secretary

LEXINGTON, MA – A Lexington resident is now at the top of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (HED). Mike Kennealy was sworn in Friday, Dec. 28.

Kennealy joined HEDas assistant secretary for Business Growth in 2015. In his role he played an integral part in advancing the Baker-Polito administration's strategy for job creation and business development and provided leadership in key sectors, including serving as co-chair of the board of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.

Kennealy's track record includes serving in the private sector. He began his career in private equity at TA Associates, a Boston-based firm. In 1997, he joined Spectrum Equity, a private equity firm founded in 1994 with offices in Boston and San Francisco.

During his more than 15 years at Spectrum, he helped grow the firm to become an established market leader with nearly $5 billion in assets under management and investments in over 100 high-growth internet, software and information services companies. After his career in private equity, Kennealy spent two years as Special Advisor to the Receiver at Lawrence Public Schools, where he worked with the state-appointed superintendent/receiver on strategic and financial initiatives to support the school district’s turnaround plan.

Kennealy and his family have been involved in Lexingtontown government, education and youth sports. He has served on the Board of Trustees of St. John’s Prep in Danvers since 2009 and currently serves as Chairman, and he serves on the Board of Visitors for The Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and the Social Sciences at Dartmouth College. Kennealy received a A.B. in Government from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

"It has been an honor to serve as Assistant Secretary for Business Growth under Secretary Ash, Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito over the last four years and I am excited to take on the role of Secretary," Kennealy said in a statement at the time of his appointment. "I have been inspired by the ingenuity and drive in our diverse communities and companies and I look forward to working with the Administration, Legislature, local officials and members of the non-profit and private sectors across the Commonwealth to grow Massachusetts’ nation-leading innovation economy and continue to make progress on important issues like affordable housing and homelessness."

Image submitted by Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development